Yesterday, we reported about a note John Mayer had written to the Grateful Dead, congratulating them on the 50th anniversary of their debut album The Grateful Dead. The note spread across an entire page in Billboard Magazine, reading: “To the band that changed my life, and for the music that keeps on coloring it in.” The note received a lot of attention from Deadheads worldwide who’ve enjoyed seeing this late-blooming Dead & Company guitarist accept his life-changing career path. “Forever Grateful,” he signs.
Fellow bandmates and original Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Bill Kreutzmann shared their reactions to the note of gratitude. “Thanks for this John Mayer. It’s a pleasure coloring in these pages with you,” Weir wrote. “There’s a lot to be said here… Thank you, John Mayer,” said Kreutzmann. Longtime percussionist Mickey Hart also responded to the note, writing “John Mayer – You’re one of us now.” It goes without saying that these recognitions are pretty solid.
See below for the page from Billboard Magazine:
In March of 1967, the Grateful Dead released their debut album The Grateful Dead. The record included few originals, “The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion)” and Jerry Garcia‘s “Cream Puff War,” along with some of their signature covers of “Beat It On Down The Line,” “Cold Rain and Snow,” “Sitting On Top of the World,” “Morning Dew,” “Viola Lee Blues,” and more.
It’s no wonder John Mayer felt the need to attribute these career-shaping sounds, as he continues to carry the torch 50 years later while performing alongside original members guitarist Bob Weir and drummer Bill Kreutzman, and long-time percussionist Mickey Hart. The revitalized music is only accentuated through the bass wonders of Oteil Burbridge and the psychedelic keys of Jeff Chimenti. We can’t wait for Dead & Company tour this summer! Check out the full schedule here.
Mayer will also be on solo tour this summer, promising an acoustic set, a set with the John Mayer Trio (featuring bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Steve Jordan), and a set with his full live band as well. More information can be found here.